{"id":92592,"date":"2026-02-17T23:12:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T02:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/893243537\/MmQHiIgc_X5R6hKq"},"modified":"2026-02-17T23:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T02:12:07","slug":"hii-path-robotics-team-to-integrate-physical-ai-into-manned-unmanned-shipbuilding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/hii-path-robotics-team-to-integrate-physical-ai-into-manned-unmanned-shipbuilding\/","title":{"rendered":"HII, Path Robotics Team to Integrate Physical AI Into Manned, Unmanned Shipbuilding"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Eric Chewning (Left), HII\u2019s EVP of Maritime Systems & Corporate Strategy, and Andy Lonsberry (right), CEO and co-founder, Path Robotics signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the integration of Path\u2019s physical AI-based welding solutions into shipbuilding operations that could accelerate throughput, strengthen the maritime industrial base and augment the shipbuilding workforce. The signing ceremony took place at Path robotics\u2019 headquarters in Columbus Ohio. Photo credit: Path Robotics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

COLUMBUS, Ohio \u2014 HII and Path Robotics signed a memorandum of understanding today to explore the integration of Path\u2019s physical AI for welding into shipbuilding operations that could accelerate throughput, strengthen the maritime industrial base, and augment the shipbuilding workforce. The MOU signing ceremony took place at Path Robotics\u2019 headquarters and was attended by Eric Chewning, HII\u2019s executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy, and Andy Lonsberry, Path Robotics CEO and co-founder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to partner with Path Robotics to incorporate their state-of-the-art physical AI models to further augment our workforce and speed up U.S. Navy manned and unmanned shipbuilding production,\u201d said Chewning. \u201cOur shipbuilding throughput was up 14% in 2025 and we are looking for an additional 15% increase in 2026.  By working with new partners like Path Robotics, we can further accelerate shipbuilding production.  I look forward to jointly developing an autonomous AI-based welding solution that can help us meet Navy standards and be scaled in our shipyard facilities. Navigating this transformational partnership has the potential to increase our throughput efficiency without sacrificing quality.\u201d<\/p>\n

HII and Path Robotics will work to identify and potentially pursue future opportunities in three areas that include autonomous shipbuilding capability development, train a workforce to extend automation and establish an intellectual property framework for physical AI-based autonomous welding systems. In addition, the companies will pursue research and development around integrating Path\u2019s physical AI models with other innovative shipbuilding technologies used in the construction of HII ships, to include HII\u2019s ROMULUS line of unmanned surface vehicles. Together these technologies would augment the welding workforce, automate structural production, and accelerate throughput to advance national security objectives.<\/p>\n

\u201cPartnering with the nation\u2019s largest military shipbuilder during such a critical time for national defense and manufacturing underscores the importance of what we\u2019re building at Path,\u201d said Lonsberry. \u201cWelding is one of the hardest processes to automate in any industry, and shipbuilding is no exception. Path\u2019s physical AI is purpose-built for that challenge \u2013 seeing, understanding, and adapting to real world conditions in real time. We\u2019re honored to work alongside HII to help modernize defense manufacturing and strengthen the naval industrial base for decades to come.\u201d    <\/p>\n

Prior to the MOU signing ceremony, attendees from HII, local dignitaries and Path stakeholders walked the Path Robotics factory floor and observed robotic welding demonstrations in the company\u2019s new intelligence center. The demonstrations showcased how Path Robotics systems may be applicable to naval fabrication work, ranging from heavy foundations to large, complex ship structural assemblies. The technology showed how an autonomous welding system can adapt to unpredictable shipyard conditions, such as fit variations, complex joint types and different materials     .<\/p>\n

Path\u2019s physical AI model for welding, Obsidian, and proprietary sensing and vision system transforms a traditional industrial robot arm from a rigid, repeat-only machine into a real-time perception and decision-making system that can see, understand, and adapt to the variations of a shipbuilding environment.<\/p>\n

Currently, HII shipbuilders perform specialized, high-tolerance welding and direct weld support activities on large, complex ship structures without an AI-based autonomous welding capability. HII divisions use automated robot welders that require human collaboration \u2014 they are traditional panel line units, cobot welders that work alongside shipbuilders, or mechanized welders that follow pre-programmed paths. AI-driven autonomous welding technology presents a promising potential opportunity to expand distributed shipbuilding capacity and augment HII\u2019s skilled workforce to accelerate delivery and meet the U.S. Navy\u2019s growing demand.<\/p>\n

\"image_pdf\"<\/a>\"image_print\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Seapower<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\"Seapower<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
Latest posts by Seapower Staff (see all<\/a>)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… and unmanned shipbuilding<\/span> production,\u00e2\u0080\u009d said Chewning. \u00e2\u0080\u009cOur shipbuilding<\/span> throughput was … areas that include autonomous shipbuilding<\/span> capability development, train a … variations of a shipbuilding<\/span> environment. Currently, HII shipbuilders<\/span> perform specialized, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92592\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}